Perforated ribbon mounting for electrical conductors



0, 53 LE ROY J. LINK 2,626,303

PERFORATED RIBBON MOUNTING FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed March 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEET l TILE--1- FIE--fi- TIE--3- FIG--Q- mmyrox: Leggy .ILzn1;, BY

Jan. 20, 1953 LE ROY J. LINK 2,626,303

PERFORATED RIBBON MOUNTING FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed March 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FIG. 5

FIE- En- FIE--7. FIE-.121.

e o In ATTORNEY- Patented Jan. 20, 1953 OFFICE PERFORATED RIBBON MOUNTING FOR- ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Le Roy Link, Reading, Pa. 7 Application March 16, 1950, Serial No. 150,002

- This invention relates to multiple conductor high frequency transmission'lines such as are used in connection with antenna installations for television and radio receiving equipment, and more particularly to multiple conductor lead-in lines of this type provided in the form of a substantially fiat tape, ribbon, or band.

One object of my invention is to provide a novel multiple conductor tr-ansmission'line of the type indicated.

Another object is to provide such a transmission line which has certain structural and functional features of advantage over the similar transmission lines of the prior art.

A further object is to provide such a transmission line in which the dielectric characteristics of the insulating material, which separates the conductors, is changed to a value close to that of air so as to effect increased signal strength transmission through the conductors.

An additional object is to provide a high frequency transmission line which offers minimum resistance to wind. v

Another object is to provide such a transmission line which is more flexible and lighter in weight, than the similar transmission lines of the prior art.

Another object is to provide such a transmission line which is constructed in such manner as to reduce the accumulation thereon of dirt, moisture, ice, etc., substantially to a minimum.

A further object is to provide such a transmission line having embodied therein novel elements arranged to cause ofi-set drainage of moisture accumulations at spaced points along the entire line or a section thereof.

Another object is to provide such a transmission line in the form of a perforatedtape, or band, wherein the perforations are of such shape and size that they will function to increase the insulation quality, or characteristic, of the line beyond that afiorded by the insulation material which separates the conductors of the line.

Another object is to provide a high frequency transmission line comprising a flexible ribbon section made of plastic material having a plurality of electrical conductors embedded lengthwise therein with a spacing structure formed between said conductors, which structure is provided with apertures of such size and shape as to establish a certain air dielectric-value between the conductors of said ribbon section.

Another object of this invention is to construct a high frequency transmission linewhich combines the dielectric characteristic of air with that 4 Claims. (01. 174-117) 2 of the insulating material used in the construction of the transmission line.

It is also an object-to provide such a trans-- mission line having perforations of a certain size and shape arranged in spaced-relation between the conductors of the line throughout the entire length thereof, which perforations impart various features of advantage to the line over the similar transmission lines presently available and intended to serve the same or a similar purpose.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent from the following detailed description of various practical and illustrative embodiments of my improvements shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention comprises the novel transmission line, elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, .as more particularly defined and indicated by the hereto appended claims;

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged elevational views of various forms of the high frequency transmission line embodying my invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view and cross section of the form of high frequency transmission line illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational ,view of a modified form of my novel high frequency transmission line.

Figure 7 is a central sectional view of the transmission line shown in Figure 6 taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 7-4 in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a central sectional view, similar to that illustrated in Figure 7, in which the pointed edge portions of the spacing web, whichextend into the; apertures in the; transmission line, are bent to cause drainage of moisture from the transmission line to one side thereof.

Fig. 9 discloses the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 when twisted in the manner in which such ahigh frequency transmission line is sometimes twisted during its installation, or otherwise.

It will be helpful to an understanding of myv invention to first briefly consider some of the more important aspects and features thereof, so that these may be kept in mind during the sub sequent reading of the detailed description of the practical and illustrative embodiment .of'my improvements as shown in theaccompanying drawings. Accordingly it is noted that the high frequency transmission line forming the subject matter of my present inventionis especially adapted for use as a lead-in conductor or line for television and other radio receiving apparatus in which ultra high frequency currents are transmitted from the antenna to the receiving apparatus.

The electrical losses which affect the signal strength of such a transmission line depend on the insulating quality of the material used for this purpose in the transmission line, the impedance characteristic of such material, the ability of the transmission line to withstand the deteriorating effect of weather conditions, etc., as well as the structural characteristics of the transmission line which prevent or reduce the accumulation thereon of dirt, soot, moisture, snow and ice, all of which materially affect the efiicient transmission of high frequency currents through the conductors of the line, by increasing the electrical losses, or by decreasing the signal strength, or causing distortion thereof.

In the novel construction of my high frequency transmission line the electrical insulating characteristic of the insulating material used is combined with the insulating characteristic of air which thus results in a transmission line that has superior electrical insulating characteristics over similar present day transmission lines. The electrical losses due to impedance, etc., as above pointed out, are avoided by the structural features of my transmission line which include a plurality of air'spaces of a certain size and shape that are so designed in outline and arranged in sequence in the line that accumulation of dirt, soot, moisture, snow, ice, etc., may not take place, or is reduced to such an extent that electrical losses are practically eliminated.

The foregoing phases and features of my invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the drawings, in which like reference numerals .indicate'like parts:

My novel high frequency transmission line, as illustrated in the various figures of the drawings, comprises a ribbon-like structure formed of suitable plastic material which is electrically non-conducting' and has other qualities and characteristics embodied in plastic materials used for this purpose in accordance with modern practice, that are desirable in the construc' tion of a high frequency transmission line.

The electric conductors |-l of the high frequency transmission line, are made up as usual, of one or more wires of the proper conducting material and gauge to best serve their purpose in conformity with the practice followed in providing such transmission lines, and are suitably embedded or otherwise attached to thetranse mission lineso as to'provide a spacing web Z between these conductors. This spacing'web, in the form illustrated in Figure 1, has special circular apertures 33 provided therein, which establish a large air gap for the insulatingmaterial at frequent intervals in the entire transmission line or any section thereof. In this way the electrical characteristics of the Web insulating material are combined with the electrical characteristics of air, to improve the electric characteristics of the separating means between the conductors l| of my high frequency trans mission line,o over any of the transmission lines now'inuse. x

In Figure 2 I have shown the apertures 3- 3 as being elliptical in outline, in Figure 3 they have a substantially square and in Figure 4 a substantially rectangular outline.

By eliminating a considerable portion of the spacing web 2 through the use of apertures in the web as shown in the several figures of the drawings, the weight of the high frequency transmission line is reduced and made extremely flexible to permit the line to be readily flexed or twisted longitudinally as is shown in Figure 9.

The various special apertures shown, furthermore considerably reduce the resistance a transmission line ordinarily offers to the wind. Strong air currents from any direction, consequently cannot buffet about, or cause swinging of any freely suspended section of my transmission line.

The apertures 3-3 also prevent, or substantially reduce the collection of moisture, dirt, snow, ice, etc., at their location in the line. This feature is enhanced by the use of an elongated aperture 3, such as is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, in which a point 4 is formed by a wall portion defining the aperture, which point projects'from the web intothe elongated aperture lengthwise of the transmission line. This point 4 operates to facilitate draining, or running ofi into space any moisture that will collect on the spacing web 2. g 1

Ice and snow will not build up as readily on the transmission line due to the broken surface provided by the apertures 3, in the spacing web 2, and this reduces the danger of transmission line breakage, or rupture, due to severe weather conditions. This enables reduction to a minimum of the cross section of the conductors and that of the insulating material in providing a high frequency transmission line which best serves its intended purpose. v My novel transmission line structure not only obviates the collection of moisture, dirt, soot, etc., but also considerably reduces the electrical loss in the line due to this deterioration of the insulating web material which is removed at the locations where the special apertures 3 are provided.

In Figure 8 the pointed sections 4-4 of the spacing web 2 are bent laterally so as to provide points located at one side of the transmission line which direct drainage away from the transmission line.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 4, the length of each of the apertures3-3 shown in this figure is greater than the width of the transmission line. This permits a section of the transmission line to be longitudinally projected through any one of these apertures to form a loop and thus take up a slack in the length of the line or shorten the line without cutting it, or provide for the crossing of the line at predetermined or desired points in the line.

While I have shown and described several em: bodiments of my improved transmission'line, it

' is to be understood that changes and modifications are possible within the scope of my invention which is indicated by the hereto appended claims 7 I claim: r

1. A high frequency transmission. line com.- prising a flexible ribbon made up of integrally formed electrically non-conducting material; a pair of electrical conductors embedded in said ribbon with a spacing web being provided with cutaway portions each partially defined by a pointed web section bent to project to one side be'yon'd'the transmission-line intermediate said pair of electrical conductors.

2. A high frequency transmission line comprising a flexible ribbon made up of integrally formed electrically non-conducting material; a

pair of electrical conductors embedded in said ribbon with a spacing web provided with cutaway portions each partially defined by a pointed web section bent to angularly project to one side and beyond said spacing web and pointing in one direction of the transmission line intermediate said pair of electrical conductors.

3. A high frequency transmission line comprising a flexible ribbon made up of integrally formed electrically non-conducting material, a pair of conductors embedded in said ribbon with a spacing web formed between them, and drainage means projecting from said spacing web intermediate said conductors with the surface of said drainage means extending angularly to the Web surface.

4. A high frequency transmission line comprising a flexible ribbon made up of integrally formed electrically non-conducting material, a pair of conductors embedded in said ribbon with a spacing web formed between them, said spacing 6 web being provided with cutaway portions; and drainage means projecting from said spacing web intermediate said conductors with the surface of said drainage means extending angularly to the web surface intermediate said cutaway portions.

LE ROY J. LINK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

